TVL boys soccer race going down to the wire

Wednesday

Oct 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMOct 29, 2008 at 8:12 PM

Yesterday's washouts in the Tri-Valley League boys soccer schedule have only put a temporary delay in the race for the league championship. The champion will be determined by early next week when the regular season reaches its conclusion by no later than Tuesday.

Rick Rendell/Daily News correspondent

Yesterday's washouts in the Tri-Valley League boys soccer schedule have only put a temporary delay in the race for the league championship. The champion will be determined by early next week when the regular season reaches its conclusion by no later than Tuesday.

Entering this final week, the quest for the TVL title has emerged as a three-team race. Defending league champion Medfield (11-1-3) is the front-runner with Holliston (11-2-4) and Hopkinton (11-3-2) in close pursuit.

"It coming down to the wire," said Holliston coach Brian Mazar, whose team's game at Westwood last night was postponed to Monday.

Medfield's game at Dover-Sherborn yesterday was postponed to Friday and Hopkinton's game at Norton was moved to Monday. The TVL's only game played in the wet conditions yesterday was Medway's 2-2 draw with Millis.

In that matchup last night in Medway, junior forward Grey Benjamin scored the tying goal with a minute left for the Mustangs. Millis had taken a 2-1 lead on goals by John Bocchino and Sam Topazio. Greg McKay tied the game at 1-1 at halftime for Medway (8-5-4).

Millis keeper Robert Albrect made three saves while Medway goalie Tyler Pearl stopped six shots in the deadlock.

Tournament-bound Medway, a longtime TVL power, could play the role of spoiler in the race, as could an improving D-S. The Mustangs play at Medfield tomorrow. Medfield finishes its regular season with games against D-S, including the finale at home on Monday.

"We're playing in a very competitive league," said Mazar. "It's one of the more competitive years in the league too."

"It's going to be right down to the wire," concurred Hopkinton coach Garrett Sawyer. "The league is always really strong. There's always a few teams at the top and a lot of good teams in the middle that beat each other up. That makes the league exciting and every game intense. On any day, if you're not playing your game, it will be a close game no matter who you're playing."

Hopkinton handed Medfield its only loss this season, a 2-1 win earlier in the fall and tied the Warriors, 1-1, last Friday.

Both Holliston and Hopkinton have two games left, starting with a showdown against each other at Hopkinton tomorrow night. Holliston defeated the Hillers, 3-0, earlier this fall.

"That was at home and it's much easier to play at home," said Mazar.

Injuries have already played and could be a key factor down the stretch. The Panthers lost all-star senior goalie Jake Tracy to a torn ACL midway through the season.

"We're pretty banged up,' admitted Mazar. "It was disappointing because this was his last year. It's tough to suffer that type of injury. We have other players who are banged up and bruised. That's what happens at this point of the season.

"But we're excited about the game. Our focus is on Hopkinton. It will be a good game at their place and be a nail-biter."

"We feel confident," said Sawyer. "We're playing well and are as healthy as we've been at this point of the season in my five years here. That's big. Kids can wear down. That's working in our favor as well."

"For our seniors, it's a big deal for them," said Sawyer. "The team revolves around a nucleus of seniors and has for three years now."

Sawyer singled out his senior tri-captains: midfielder Keith Love, and defenders Drew Steedman and Greg Prall, along with physical forward-midfielder Jake Huntley and Spencer Hachey, a converted goalkeeper who has been a hot scorer of late and netted the tying tally against Medfield.

Holliston is led by Will Nesbitt, a senior who has led the league in scoring the past two years.

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